👿 I answer your questions
#27 June QaA
Hey my demon 👋
Welcome to the edition #27 of the Art Missive! We are 3,747😈 in this newsletter. Whether you have been here from the beginning or you have just arrived, thank you so much for reading ❤.
If you haven't already, you can also:
Read all the previous Art Missives
Ask your questions for the next QaAs here
In this Art Missive
⌛ Reading time : 5 minutes
🥊 Actionnability: immediately actionable
💪 Goals:
Improve your artistic practice
Gain confidence
Build your art community
Avoid burnout
Intro
It's Q&A time, folks!
I absolutely love this moment because it gives me a chance to dive into your burning questions. And let me tell you, I'm thrilled to create a space where all members of the tribe can freely ask anything they want.
So, don't hold back! Send me your questions here. If something catches your interest, just give me a shout, and I'll try to include it in the next Q&A session!
Now, let's get to the juicy part. This month, I've noticed a recurring theme with four popular questions:
Q1. Do you have general anatomy tips?
👉 Anatomy is an ongoing journey that requires constant improvement and dedication. Incorporate anatomy studies into your regular art practice to make gradual progress over time.
👉 Begin by exploring anatomy courses and books tailored for artists. For example, Proko's YouTube channel and website are such a valuable resource offering a wide range of anatomy tutorials. You could also try books like "Anatomy for Sculptors" or support artists on Patreon who specialize in mastering anatomy and offer exclusive content.
👉 Practice timed gesture drawings to develop your observation skills and simplify the human form. Experiment with different poses using real-life references and utilize resources like the Quickposes website.
👉 I had a lot of questions about facial anatomy as many of my little demons specialize in portraits. To study facial anatomy, I personally learned the Loomis method. I also use an Asaro's head model sometimes to keep my drawings accurate.
👉 Finally, let's talk about the mindset, because it's crucial when it comes to anatomy. In my opinion, it's what will take you to a whole new level. Cultivate an observational mindset when studying anatomy. See the world around you as a never-ending source of artistic inspiration. When you're out and about, constantly break down and analyze people, their postures, and gestures. Take your time to understand and capture the essence of what you see in your artwork. Remember, embracing the right mindset can truly transform your approach to anatomy and take your artistic abilities to new heights!
Q2. How to stop doubting yourself and get rid of the inferiority complex?
In the world of artists, feelings of inferiority and the impostor syndrome are incredibly common. While these emotions may stem from a desire to improve, they often hinder artistic expression and progress.
The worst part is that they can eat away at you and lead to an art block.
So, how can you overcome this?
👉 The first thing to realize is that these emotions are shared by all artists. Even the most experienced and talented artists can feel this way. Therefore, your inferiority complex is not actually tied to your artistic level. On the contrary, it prevents you from seeing your true abilities.
👉 Next, remember that in art, everyone starts off being bad. It takes years, even decades, to truly feel proud of your work. That's part of the journey! It's what makes the adventure exciting and what sets artists apart.
I could give you a bunch of other “bullshit” advice like surrounding yourself with supportive people, practicing self-compassion, and embracing your unique voice.
But I know you won't apply them because, let's face it, who does? Instead, I'd like to share a technique that I use whenever I doubt myself (which happens quite often, believe me):
💡 My secret tips: visit the profile of artists you really admire and scroll down to their earliest posts!
Every time I do that, I realize that:
The first drawings of artists I dream of reaching are often not great. They weren't born gods with a paintbrush in hand. They started small like me and they continued to work and improve before becoming skilled.
They are not inherently better than me; they simply have 5 or 10 years of practice ahead. These artists dedicated decades to reaching their exceptional level. So why should I expect to achieve the same level of mastery in just a few months? It reminds me that art is a long-term journey, and time is my greatest ally in progressing.
I can become a great artist too.
So, if you're feeling down, try out my technique! You'll see that it will make you feel better and put you back on the right track.
Q3. What to post on Instagram?
You know, this question keeps popping up every month, and I feel kinda bad for not giving it a direct response. But here's the thing: I've actually talked about this topic a lot before, and I've got a bunch of resources ready to share:
👉 My free class dans laquelle je te partage mes conseils pour savoir quoi poster, quand poster and comment rester consistent.
👉 My Instagram post about how I repurpose 1 artwork into several pieces of content.
👉 I also talk about what I post and how I create my posts in my previous Art Missives.
Q4. How to find references?
Ah, this is another question that comes up quite often!
New artists tend to think that the holy grail of art is drawing from imagination. But the reality is quite different: to create meaningful and emotional artwork, you can't avoid using references. They help you build a coherent world and evoke a striking atmosphere. In fact, all professional artists use references.
Here are my top 5 places to find references:
Pinterest: The more you use it, the better Pinterest gets at suggesting good images. It's truly the best platform to discover reference photos.
Other artists' Pinterest boards: Your favorite artists probably have public Pinterest boards where they gather all the references they use for their amazing artwork. Take a look and use their references for your own creations.
Google: Do I even need to explain further? It's a treasure trove of images and resources.
Figure drawing websites like Proko, Quick Poses, and Line of Action: These websites offer model pictures and customizable 3D models, perfect for when you want to draw something specific or simply practice figure drawing.
Daily life and drawing from life: One of the most important sources of references is your own surroundings. By developing the habit of drawing from life and observing your environment with an artist's eye, you'll build a mental library that will make your artistic journey much smoother.
Let me know if you'd like me to write an Art Missive on how I find and organize my references.
And of course, don't forget to send me your questions!